The Daily Reveille - Sept. 9, 2011

Lineup: Russell Shepard to return for West Virginia game, p. 7

Alumni: Shaq visits campus for statue unveiling, p. 8

Reveille The Daily

www.lsureveille.com

Football: Tigers prepare to face Northwestern State in first home game, p. 7 Friday, September 9, 2011 • Volume 116, Issue 14

University to consolidate six colleges, programs, p. 3

9/11

N E V E R

F O R G E T.

Miles, players explain how Sept. 11 affected them, p. 7

Students, professors give first-hand accounts of 9/11, p. 10

Muslim-American students discuss social perceptions, p. 10

Tiger Band to perform special halftime show, p. 15

The Daily Reveille staff shares their Sept. 11 experiences on the Out of Print blog at lsureveille.com. illustration by LACYE BEAUREGARD / The Daily Reveille

The Daily Reveille

page 2

Nation & World

Friday, September 9, 2011

INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL

STATE/LOCAL

Special Libyan unit hunting down Gadhafi, other countries to help

Firefighters attempt to deal big blow to stubborn Texas blaze

Jordan Jefferson seeks return of seized property after bar fight

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Determined to hunt down Moammar Gadhafi, Libya’s new rulers say they have dedicated a special unit of fighters to track the elusive former leader, listening in on his aides’ phone calls, poring over satellite images and interviewing witnesses.

Although leads come mostly from on-the-ground tips, help is also coming from France and other Western countries, according to a French intelligence official.

BASTROP, Texas (AP) — Firefighters rushed Thursday to prepare their biggest aerial assault yet of a massive wildfire that has raged for days across central Texas, incinerating nearly 1,400 homes and miles of parched land.

Crews made steady progress against the massive Bastrop County fire and closed in around its biggest flames as they finalized plans to deploy a converted DC-10 jetliner capable of dropping 12,000 gallons of retardant on the blaze and smoldering hotspots.

A firefighter has his equipment checked as an engulfed house burns in the background in Jefferson, Texas on Thursday.

Mayor: Terror threat against NYC credible, taking precautions

Ben & Jerry’s reveals new flavor: Schweddy Balls, based on SNL skit

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said a terror threat against the city is credible but not corroborated.

U.S. officials said Thursday they were investigating a detailed al-Qaida car bomb plot aimed at bridges or tunnels in New York or Washington.

Bloomberg said the New York Police Department is deploying additional resources to keep residents safe ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on Sunday. He said the city’s 9/11 observance will go ahead as planned.

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Ben & Jerry’s has Schweddy Balls.

Would you like a taste?

Chill out, it’s only the name of their new flavor.

Schweddy Balls ice cream is an homage to a 13-year-old “Saturday Night Live” skit featuring Alec Baldwin as bakery owner Pete Schweddy, whose unique holiday offerings included a delicacy called Schweddy balls.

The company’s not worried about offending people with the name, said spokesman Sean Greenwood.

(AP) — The lawyer for suspended LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson has filed a motion seeking the return of property that police took from the player’s apartment during the investigation of a bar fight that led to Jefferson’s arrest.

Defense attorney Lewis Unglesby also is asking the court for a copy of an affidavit outlining probable cause for the search warrant.

A judge has set a hearing on Monday in East Baton Rouge Parish district court to consider the motions.

Jefferson and reserve linebacker Josh Johns were booked with second-degree battery for allegedly beating a man in a parking lot outside a bar near campus.

First black child diagnosed with rare, fatal aging disease JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The elfin child with the big personality and bright smile calls herself “the first lady” and dreams of the future. But doctors say 12-yearold Ontlametse Phalatse has only, perhaps, another couple of years to live.

“I call myself a first lady because I’m the first black child with this disease ... Which other black child do you know with this disease?” she challenged.

Ontlametse is the first black child diagnosed with progeria, a rare and fatal genetic condition that accelerates the aging process.

ADAM SACASA / The Associated Press

Jindal: Flags to fly at half-staff to commemorate terrorist attacks (AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal has ordered all flags at state building to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Sept. 11.

Jindal’s executive order says the move is an expression of respect for Louisiana civilians and service members who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 — and the wars that followed.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today on lsureveille.com Check out the LMFAO entertainment blog’s Tech with Taylor for a discussion about GameStop’s plan to sell iPhones.

Read a retrospect of 9/11 on the Out of Print news blog.

Tiger Feed sports blog features an online exclusive look at this weekend’s golf games.

Get the latest news by downloading the LSU Reveille app in the iTunes Store and Android Market

facebook.com/ thedailyreveille

@lsureveille, @TDR_news, @TDR_sports

Weather TODAY Sunny and clear

83 58 SATURDAY

SUNDAY

88 61

88 63

MONDAY

TUESDAY

90 67

90 67

CHRISTOPHER LEH / The Daily Reveille

A can of Red Bull along with a wings sticker adorns a crosswalk sign near Lockett Hall on Thursday.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes which may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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The Daily Reveille

Friday, September 9, 2011

ACADEMICS

page 3

Six colleges, programs to merge Provost: Goal is to ‘strengthen’ Andrea Gallo Staff Writer

The University is merging six current schools and departments into a new college, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Jack Hamilton revealed yesterday.

The College of Education, the School of Social Work, the School of Library and Information Science, the School of Human Resource Education and Workforce Development, the Department of Kinesiology and the College of Education and College of Agriculture’s joint Early Childhood PK-3 program will be combined into a new college.

This decision comes after the University’s budget committee, on which Hamilton sits, found compatibilities among the programs that could collectively strengthen them, Hamilton said.

But Hamilton said the change is not because of budget difficulties, and echoed that message to the deans and department chairs of the respective colleges.

“The provost said this isn’t budget driven,” said Melinda Solmon, interim chair of the Department of Kinesiology. “This is based on how to move the University forward.”

Over time, the goal is for the college merger to increase faculty, raise revenues and gain more grants and contracts, he said.

Laura Lindsay, interim dean of currently organized.

“We’re going to have much the College of Education, said the combined structure will be “power- stronger individual units of a strong ful, visible and viable.” Lindsay said college,” Hamilton said.

Students will not be impacted she will meet with each unit head and facilitate the transition by mak- for the short-term because curricula ing sure every faculty member is en- will not change, Hamilton said.

The budget effects of this merggaged.

“We need to look at what’s part er are unclear for now, but some of all of these colleges and ask what money may be saved in the shortterm, Hamilton resources we have the ability to share,” The new college will consist of: said. By merging these programs, the she said.

• The College of Education University will be Solmon said • The School of Social Work able to make better the Department of Kinesiology is also • The School of Library and Information investments in the college in the future supportive of the Science • The School of Human Resource once budgets are changes.

“It gives us Education and Workforce Development stabilized, he said.

Faculty memthe opportunity • The Department of Kinesiology bers from each to grow,” Solmon • The Early Childhood PK-3 program program will work said. “We don’t see a downside of it. We are a unit in with Lindsay to draft a plan with the College of Education and we’ll details for the college, including a continue to be a department housed name, by Nov. 1, Hamilton said.

The proposal is then contingent in a college. We’re proud of what we on the LSU System Board of Superdo.”

She said throughout the process, visors’ approval. If approved, the Hamilton asked everyone involved college will materialize in July.

The announcement of this to think about the vision for their consolidation came one week after program and future.

The School of Social Work and Hamilton announced a merger for School of Library and Information the Departments of Electrical and Science are “small units that are very Computer Engineering under the vulnerable” as budget cuts loom, College of Engineering and ComputHamilton said. By adding them to er Science in the College of Science.

Hamilton said unless the Unia larger unit, Hamilton said the programs will perch on a sounder foun- versity faces a midyear budget cut, there are no plans for more mergers. dation.

Hamilton also said the PK-3 program should be grouped with Contact Andrea Gallo at the College of Education, not the College of Agriculture, as it is agallo@lsureveille.com

Plucker’s Wing Bar Mon: $14.99 All You Can Eat Wings and $3 Pluckers Specialty Drinks Tues: Kids Eat Free, $3 Mexican Beers and Margaritas Wed: Live Trivia at 8 pm, $4.50 34oz Mugs Thurs: $12.99 All You Can Eat Boneless Wings, $4.50 34oz Mugs, $5.50 Patron Margaritas Sun: $3 Pluckers Specialty Shots EVERYDAY BEER SPECIAL: $6.50 34oz Mugs--Blue Moon, Dos Equis, Abitas LIVE AFTER FIVE: FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES Tonight: Satisfaction - A Rolling Stones Experience A.Z. Young Park, 755 Third St., Downtown Baton Rouge www.liveafterfiveonline.com LISTEN UP! KLSU’s Friday night specials: 9pm-11pm Aye Life Radio - Hip Hop and R&B 11pm-1am The Frinsky Dingo with Bizarro Stormy - Movie and TV Soundtracks DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Becky at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: oncampus@lsureveille.com

Faculty Senate approves unionizing, new commencement gowns

Josh Naquin Staff Writer

The LSU Faculty Senate discussed revisions to commencement and the possibility of unionizing at its first meeting of the fall semester Thursday.

Faculty Senate resolution 11-11, “Call to Support and Join LSUnited,” urged faculty to support the newlyformed faculty union.

“The bottom line of this union is to give the faculty a voice,” said Michael Russo, LSUnited co-president

and senator.

The resolution was amended to change the terminology in the report from “join” to “support” and was subsequently passed.

“It is about pooling our talents together to create the best university we can,” said Patrick McGee, humanities and social sciences senator and sponsor of the resolution.

In other action, students will be donning new commencement gowns starting in December. The new celebratory garments are purple and made of recycled materials.

“We have attempted to add more gravitas to the commencement regalia,” said Kevin Cope, Faculty Senate president.

Voting on resolution 11-03, a motion to change the start of fall break, was postponed to the October senate meeting. The resolution aims to allow for a week-long Thanksgiving holiday by adjusting the start date of fall break.

Contact Josh Naquin at jnaquin@lsureveille.com

LIVE BROADCAST WEEKLY

page 4

MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS

The Daily Reveille

AMY BROUSSARD / The Daily Reveille

Dominique Dangerfield plays an introductory song Wednesday night at the Harambee event in the Cotillion Ballroom.

Annual Harambee event honors African-American figures, culture Tiger Girls, poets, more perform Catherine Parsiola Contributing Writer

Slam poets performed, the Tiger Girls danced and members of the National Panhellenic Council stepped Thursday night at Harambee, an annual African-American cultural celebration.

The event, held in the Student Union Ballroom, was designed to expose students to dialogue about cross-cultural affairs. Nikki Caldwell, LSU women’s basketball coach, was the keynote speaker.

Caldwell addressed the crowd with an inspiring message centering on a positive attitude, effective communication and being a “giver.”

She encouraged students to break down goals.

“To have a great school year, string together great days and months,” she said.

Caldwell encouraged audience members to “make every day a masterpiece” and to be effective communicators and listeners.

Caldwell encouraged audience members to develop skill in addition to talent. She called skill “the difference between good and great, the difference between getting hired and just getting an interview, the difference between cutting down nets and watching other people cut down nets.”

Caldwell also stressed the importance of philanthropy. She rides her Harley-Davidson in a motorcycle ride called “Cruisin’ for a Cause,” which raises money and awareness for breast cancer.

“I want the world to be better because I was here,” she said.

Cerise Edmonds, coordinator of cross-cultural affairs in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said in an e-mail that a committee of students and staff chose Caldwell “because of the enthusiasm and excitement she

... brought to LSU in her short time here.”

Harambee also featured various University organizations, including the Legacy Dancers and the Tiger Girls, whose performance Thursday was their first at Harambee. Several individual acts of slam poetry and musical performance were also showcased.

“Tonight shows our commitment to community as we respect each other’s ... backgrounds and ideas,” said Kurt Keppler, vice chancellor of Student Life and Enrollment Services.

Harambee featured a tribute to Victoria Archangel, a former adviser in the E.J. Ourso College of Business who passed away last year in a car accident during her commute to the University. Eli Jones, dean of the College of Business, said Archangel made an impact on students’ lives.

“She would want you to live gold and laugh,” Jones said.

Julian White, the first African-American professor at the

University, was also paid tribute to during the ceremony. Ken Carpenter, dean of the College of Art and Design, teared up as he described White as someone who loved his family, his students and architecture.

Crystal Turley, kinesiology freshman, said she enjoyed the event and would recommend other students attend. She said her favorite part was NPHC’s Unity Step.

“It’s an amazing experience,” said Brittany Caston, kinesiology freshman.

Shanae Mincy, sports administration junior, said her favorite part was Caldwell’s positive energy and personality in her address. She said turnout this year was better than in the previous years she attended.

Watch a video of the event at lsureveille.com.

Contact Catherine Parsiola at cparsiola@lsureveille.com

Friday, September 9, 2011

The Daily Reveille

Friday, September 9, 2011

TRANSPORTATION

page 5

More students use LA Swift bus to travel to New Orleans Service provided for business, leisure

wireless Internet, televisions and security cameras.

Monsour said students can be productive or sit back and relax.

“This is easier for people who want to go to New Orleans on FriMorgan Searles day and not go to bed all weekStaff Writer end, and then want to come back The hour-and-a-half long Sunday safely without having to drive may seem daunting to many drive,” she said.

Kyle Aycock, political science who want to travel between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but a tank and communication studies senior, of gas and 80 miles of cruise con- said he has used the bus on several trol may not be necessary for the occasions.

“I think as a concept it’s a trip.

LA Swift, a bus service man- good service, but I‘ve felt unsafe aged by the Louisiana Department at the CATS terminal downtown, of Transportation, has been shut- and I’ve been approached by some tling passengers between the two unsavory characters at their termicities since 2005 following Hurri- nal,” Aycock said. “But once the bus gets going, the cane Katrina when drivers have been it was used to LA Swift Ridership very professional, transport displaced and they get you residents living • 35.3 percent of riders during where you’re goand working in February were college students. ing on time.” separate locations. • 21 percent of those were LSU Aycock also A new study students. conducted by LA • 66.7 percent of riders reported they said the schedule was difficult to unSwift has found did not have access to a car. derstand the first more University • 52.8 percent of the riders are time he read it, but students are using female; 47.2 percent are male. he has found his the bus for leisure overall experiencpurposes, such Source: LA Swift es with the shuttle as riding to New Orleans for weekend visits with to be positive.

“Gas is expensive and I’m not friends and family.

The study found 21 percent of from New Orleans, and I’ve only riders are enrolled in the Univer- been there a handful of times,” he said. “Parking in New Orleans is sity.

Meri Monsour, account execu- very expensive. It makes sense if tive for LA Swift, said she believes you can to take the LA Swift bus. the bus is popular with students A $10 round trip is really hard to because it’s affordable, convenient beat.”

Kyle Salinas, international and comfortable.

A one-way ticket is $5, a one- studies sophomore, said he’s used week pass for 10 one-way trips is the LA Swift bus several times and $45 and a two-week pass for 20 would not have reached his destinations without it. one-way trips is $88.

“They were overall good ex“The fares are much more reasonable than filling up a gas tank, periences with nothing pointing in plus the cost of wear and tear on a bad direction,” he said. “The bus a car,” Monsour said. “As a fresh- wasn’t too bad, but it was a nice man, I didn’t even have a car, and bus for the trip. I wouldn’t take it this is much easier than asking for on cross-country tours, but for an hour here and there it was a good a ride.”

The buses are equipped value.”

The bus runs seven days a with captain’s chairs, bathrooms,

EVERYBODY START TO SWING

CHRISTOPHER LEH / The Daily Reveille

Chris and Bernice Levy teach a dance class Thursday focused on the Chicago Step in the Huey P. Long Fieldhouse. Read more in Tuesday’s Daily Reveille.

week, traveling between cities multiple times a day. The complete schedule is available on the LA Swift website.

Passengers can board at the CATS terminal on Barge Terminal Road downtown, located 15 miles away from the University campus. Riders may also board one of the other 11 stops between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, with four park and ride locations.

The survey also showed 66.7 percent of LA Swift riders reported they did not have access to a car.

When asked how they would get to their destination if they were unable to take the LA Swift today, 34.5 percent of people said “I don’t know” and 33.6 percent said “I would not go.”

Monsour said the shuttle is still transporting people to jobs to which they wouldn’t otherwise be

able to get.

“We’ve seen LA Swift become an essential tool for a lot of people,” she said. “We’ve had this increase in student riders and leisure travel, but the majority of riders are using it as a necessary means of transportation every day.”

Contact Morgan Searles at msearles@lsureveille.com

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TRANSPORTATION

AG CENTER

The Daily Reveille

Friday, September 9, 2011

Students Research station creates new rice variety competes want more Project internationally Tiger Trails buses Kate Mabry Staff Writer

Laura Furr Contributing Writer

Even though Student Government changed bus routes this semester in an attempt to better accommodate students, riders want more.

Online forums like Tiger Droppings and Twitter have been buzzing with complaints about wait time and overcrowding on the Tiger Trails buses.

“Sometimes it’s a long wait,” said Sarah Sandifer, nutrition sophomore. “Especially if you get there and one bus has already passed and it makes you late for class to wait for a second one.”

Chunyang Sheng, physics graduate student, agreed, saying his wait has exceeded half an hour at one bus stop.

“Time between the two buses is too long,” Sheng said. “Occasionally, I have to wait 40 minutes. It’s very inconvenient.”

The buses were re-routed this fall to send two buses down the Greek Row route. However, Greek students still see room for improvement.

Mary Allison Johnson, business sophomore and member of the Chi Omega sorority, said the buses are too crowded.

“The problem really isn’t always with waiting,” Johnson said.

“But they are really crowded once you get on and you miss your bus because there are too many people on it already.”

Students said they think the best solution is to add more buses.

Brian Davis, SG director of transportation, said the number of buses is not determined by SG. “Student Government can always lobby to the parking office for more buses,” Davis said. “But it’s difficult when they are working with a tight budget.”

Gary Graham, director of the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation, said budget concerns are the main reasons additional buses cannot be provided.

More buses would require more student fees. Offices and organizations can only ask for an increase in student fees every four years. Next spring would be the earliest time fees could increase.

“More buses are possible if students are willing to pay,” he said.

Graham said it currently costs around $90 an hour to run a bus down the Ben-Hur route, which has warranted the most complaints.

If a second bus was extended down the route, it would cost an additional $4,500 a week, he said.

The added cost would be about $160,000 for a 36-week school year.

Contact Laura Furr at lfurr@lsureveille.com

The LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station recently developed a new variety of rice, Jazzman 2, to compete with other rice breeders across the globe.

Despite the fact that the U.S. is a major rice exporter, Xueyan Sha, rice breeder at the AgCenter Rice Research Station, said about 12 percent of the country’s domestic rice consumption is imported from other countries, including Jasmine rice from Thailand and Vietnam, and Basmati rice from India and Pakistan.

Sha said the development of adapted aromatic rice varieties, including Jasmine, will provide support for the U.S. rice industry, which hopes to stay involved and seize the rapidly growing market both domestically and internationally.

“I hope Jazzman rice not only has the superior quality to foreign imports, but also provides significant economic return to [the] U.S. rice industry for [a long time,]” Sha said in an e-mail.

Rice is a major agricultural crop in Louisiana, with more than 400,000 acres of land dedicated to the industry, said Steve Linscombe, director of the AgCenter Rice Research Station.

“This project is a big economic driver for the rice industry and Louisiana as a whole,” he said.

As of last year, the state’s rice industry brought in a gross income of about $500 million, Linscombe said.

Linscombe also said the project produces positive publicity for

the University.

“This generates positive exposure for not only the AgCenter, but the entire LSU System,” he said.

Sha said a bag of Jazzman 2 rice is similarly priced with the average imported bag. In some cases, he said the Jazzman rice may cost slightly more “because of the slightly inferior yield potential compared with conventional rice, relative small acreage and the need for identity preservation.”

According to Sha, the new variety of rice was named Jazzman 2 because it has the same cooking quality as the original Jazzman, but contains a much stronger aroma.

“The newly developed Jazzman rice has the unique cooking quality very similar to imported premium Thai Jasmine,

which includes strong popcornlike aroma, sugary flavor, slender white and glossy grains, and soft texture,” he said.

The original Jazzman rice became available to the local markets in 2007, but for now, Jazzman 2 will only be grown commercially and will not be available to the local public. “[Jazzman 2] is different from the U.S. long grain rice, which lacks the softness and aroma,” he said. “Early results indicate that domestic Jazzman rice competes well with imports from Thailand, especially for non-premium brands.”

Sha said rice breeding is a time-consuming and expensive project.

“Rice check-offs managed

by Louisiana Rice Research Board is the primary long-term

funding source for us, which is supplemented by other shortterm competitive grants including those from USDA and Rice Foundation,” he said. “So far, I have received about half a million [dollars’] funding as a principal investigator and over $6 million as a co-PI.” Several Louisiana companies, including Jimmy Hoppe Farm; Jazzmen Rice, LLC.; Louisiana Rice Mills and Falcon Rice Mill, play a critical role in branding and commercializing Jazzman rice, he said.

“They are working on the further expansion of Jazzman rice market at regional, nationwide and even global level,” he said.

Contact Kate Mabry at kmabry@lsureveille.com

Sports

Friday, September 9, 2011

LOOKING BACK

page 7

LSU team recalls effects of Sept. 11 on football Miles asked to wear bulletproof vest

Mark Clements Sports Writer

Flash back to 10 years ago, sitting in a middle school classroom, watching tears pour down the teacher’s cheeks as she attempts to explain the impact of the events

unfolding in New York City to a room full of 11-year-olds.

All eyes were glued to the television set as the class of fifth graders watched the second highjacked plane crash into the World Trade Center and tried to wrap their minds around the foreign term, “terrorists.”

Everything seemed to have come to a halt that September day.

Distress, fear and confusion draped the country.

“We didn’t really know what was going on because we were young,” said junior wide receiver Rueben Randle. “The teacher told us and then stopped class and she started crying. Once you get home, you see it on every channel and you kind of understood.”

Nearly everyone remembers where they were when they heard about the 9/11 attacks. The shocking aftermath of the national tragedy spanned coast to coast,

affecting nearly every aspect of daily life.

As America prepares to reflect on the 10-year anniversary of the travesty Sunday, LSU coach Les Miles recounted the impact 9/11 had on his job.

The former Oklahoma State coach said his first game after the event, scheduled for Sept. 15, was cancelled due to the attacks, leaving a lingering air of anxiety.

“We practiced right up until

FOOTBALL

LSU holds blood drive for Chico Garcia

Receiver scheduled to return Sept. 24

Michael Gegenheimer Sports Contributor

Hunter Paniagua LSU junior wide receiver Russell Shepard will serve a three-game suspension for his violation of an NCAA rule.

Shepard is scheduled to return for LSU’s Sept. 24 game against West Virginia, according to a news release. He has been practicing with the team.

Shepard was ruled ineligible Aug. 25 by the NCAA for discussing an ongoing NCAA investigation with a teammate. The investigation focused on Willie Lyles, a Houston native who was paid for recruiting information.

Following the suspension, LSU immediately applied for Shepard’s reinShepard statement.

Shepard played in all 13 games in 2010, started nine, and recorded 33 receptions for 254 yards and one touchdown. Shepard added 226 rushing yards on 32 attempts with two touchdowns.

Shepard missed the Tigers’ season opener against Oregon and will miss games against Northwestern State on Saturday and Mississippi State on Sept. 15.

Contact Hunter Paniagua at hpaniagua@lsureveille.com

Sept. 11, see page 15

CHEERLEADING

Shepard to serve three-game suspension

Sports Writer

Thursday until the decision was made unilaterally not to play that game,” Miles said. “The mood was very tense because you didn’t know how football or how our way of life would continue with these issues and the terrorism.”

The next game for the OSU Cowboys was on the road at Texas A&M. Miles recalled the patriotic

ZACH BREAUX / The Daily Reveille

Sophomore safety Craig Loston (6) and junior tight end Chase Clement (88) get hyped for LSU’s Sept. 3 opener against Oregon.

photo courtesy of NORTHWESTERN STATE

Two Northwestern State players run onto the field. The Demons haven’t beaten or scored on the Tigers in 10 matchups.

No Mercy

Tigers won’t be taking it easy against Northwestern State

Albert Burford

Sports Contributor

Wedged between a seasonopening matchup against then-No. 3 Oregon and a Thursday night game against the No. 16 team in the country is a showdown with an in-state rival that’s 0-10 all-time against LSU. LSU has outscored Northwestern State, 417-0, in those 10 games.

But that won’t stop LSU from treating its Saturday night matchup in Tiger Stadium differently from any other game.

The Demons (1-0) are coming off a 24-23 win over Delta State, a game LSU coach Les Miles said he watched.

“They came from behind to beat Delta State,” Miles said. “It’s a very competent scheme, very solid football.”

The game is a homecoming of

sorts, as the Tigers will grace the field at Death Valley for the first time this season, while former LSU co-defensive coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto will grace the opposing sideline.

“I have great respect for Bradley Dale Peveto,” Miles said. “He has them flying around. He has them well-organized.”

Peveto reciprocoted the respect from Miles and said he’s embracing the return to Baton Rouge.

“I can try to describe it, but until our guys hit that field and experience the thrill of Tiger Stadium, what I say won’t do it justice,” Peveto said. “LSU’s fans make it that way and hopefully we can earn their respect with the way we compete.”

The No. 2 Tigers, ahead two spots in the polls after a dominating 40-27 performance against Oregon last weekend, contained their excitement after the win in Cowboys

Stadium, according to Miles.

“Did I take some personal time [to celebrate]?” Miles asked rhetorically. “You betcha. A good 15 minutes in the stadium, a warm, comfortable thought at home on Sunday morning and then on to the next opponent and on to improving the team.”

Sophomore defensive end Barkevious Mingo said regardless of the opponent, the Tigers will try to execute their game plan.

“We know what kind of season we want to have,” he said. “We just have to prepare for their best shot.”

Many players also said while the Oregon win was satisfying, the Tigers need to tweak a few things before facing the Demons. “[Miles] showed us some effort plays that weren’t really 100 percent,” Mingo said. “It’s just the Northwestern, see page 15

LSU vs. Northwestern State Saturday at 7:00 p.m. on TigerVision

In an attempt to help LSU associate cheerleading coach Chico Garcia with the overwhelming costs of his medical treatment, the LSU Athletic Department has teamed up with Our Lady of the Lake Hospital to host a blood drive in Garcia’s honor today.

Garcia was involved in a serious boating accident on Aug. 27 that left the former LSU cheerleader in critical condition with a spinal-cord injury. The drive will take place in the Tiger Stadium parking lot today Garcia from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For every pint of blood donated, Our Lady of the Lake will take off $15 from Garcia’s medical expenses.

Due to Garcia’s good physical shape prior to his accident, he has been able to use accessory muscles to breath. But as those muscles begin to atrophy, breathing has become more labored. Doctors have now determined that a tracheotomy procedure is necessary for Garcia to continue breathing.

“The team has been affected by this tragedy in a major way,” said Pauline Zernott, head spirit coordinator. “But they have taken Chico’s spirit and positive attitude and have realized that this is just a temporary situation and that he will be back as soon as possible.”

Those who can’t attend today’s drive but still wish to donate in honor of Garcia can do so at next week’s week-long blood drive on Tower Drive behind the Student Union from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Contact Michael Gegenheimer at mgegenheimer@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

page 8

DEDICATION

Friday, September 9, 2011

Shaquille O’Neal statue unveiling ceremony draws a crowd

Alex Cassara Sports Contributor

A gigantic banner emblazoned with a purple and gold Superman logo hung in front of the LSU men’s basketball practice facility Thursday.

In front of the banner sat a massive object veiled in a billowing white cloak.

When Shaquille O’Neal, who dons the Superman logo on his left bicep, removed the cloak, the statue designed in his likeness nearly evoked tears from the former LSU basketball star.

“You almost caught me off guard,” O’Neal said at a press conference after the ceremony. “I almost cried when I saw how big it was, but I had to man up. This right here

would probably be top two [days of my life]. I’ve won a lot of championships and got a lot of awards, but I don’t think anything will compare to this day.”

O’Neal was welcomed by applause from friends, family and former teammates as Tiger Band belted the fight song and Tigers fans roared.

The cheerleaders unsuccessfully tried to make a tunnel for the 7-foot1, 325-pound star.

O’Neal described the LSU community as a character-molding force.

“The great thing about Baton Rouge is the people are so friendly, the campus is so lively, the nightlife is great,” O’Neal said. “I have to say, besides my parents raising me, it’s really the people of Louisiana who’ve made me who I am today.”

photos by BLAIR LOCKHART / The Daily Reveille

[Left] The new 900-pound statue of former LSU basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. [Right] The cheerleaders tried to make a tunnel for the 7-foot-1 Shaq to no avail.

O’Neal reiterated throughout the festivities how grateful he was for the sculpture.

“I’m honored,” he said. “I’m humbled. There’s been a lot of great athletes that came through this University, a lot that were greater than me. Pistol Pete [Maravich], Bob Pettit, Stanley Roberts, guys like that.

I’m just honored that they chose me to make a statue of.”

O’Neal was joined at the podium by a plethora of former players, including Brandon Bass, Marcus Thornton and Stromile Swift.

O’Neal said when people ask him why he returns to LSU to give back, he tells them he’s not returning — he’s coming home.

He also said he will attend Saturday’s football game against

Northwestern State, and he’s favoring the Tigers to win, 45-0.

Other speakers included men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson, O’Neal’s mother Lucille O’Neal and Athletic Director Joe Alleva, who reinforced O’Neal’s local loyalty.

“Shaq is truly an icon. He’s our icon,” Alleva said.

During the press conference, O’Neal revealed he has been working the past four years toward earning his doctorate from the University. He said he is almost done with his dissertation, which is titled, “The Duality of Humor and Aggression in Leadership Styles.”

“Unfortunately I will no longer answer to Shaq, you’ll have to call me Dr. O’Neal,” O’Neal joked.

The night was an opportunity

for O’Neal to reminisce — the good, the bad and the delicious.

“My favorite memory is coming out and hearing those horns and looking up and just seeing the whole city behind us,” O’Neal said. “Win or lose, behind us. The only thing I regret is not being able to give LSU a national championship. ... That’s the only thing I regret because you guys have given me so much, especially those shrimp poboys.”

Watch a video of the unveiling and see a photo slideshow at lsureveille.com.

Contact Alex Cassara at acassara@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Friday, September 9, 2011

FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

page 9

Michigan to upset Notre Dame, Utah will challenge USC BODY SHOTS

Rob Landry Sports columnist The first week of the season is as difficult a week to wager as any. No one is sure which team will emerge from the tunnel for that first game.

But after going out on a limb last week, there were a few things I learned about some teams.

Georgia is bad. Sure, give Boise State credit if you please. I won’t, but Georgia looked pitiful. My mother always told me, “You have to look good to play good.” Georgia did neither. The Bulldogs’ uniforms were atrocious, and their play was nauseating.

Auburn is also in trouble, but it isn’t as bad as the team showed Saturday. Losing former quarterback Cam Newton and defensive tackle Nick Fairley resulted in brutal departures, but never in a million years did I see it causing Auburn to be a miracle onside kick recovery away from losing to Utah State. They will rebound and they will be good. They won’t compete for a division title, but they will win some games.

Baylor junior quarterback Robert Griffin III can play some ball.

For people who haven’t had the opportunity to watch him play a complete game yet, you’re missing out.

He’s as electrifying as anyone in the country.

Now on to this week’s picks.

Florida (-23) over UAB The Gators’ offense looked good in Charlie Weis’ debut – a 413 win against Florida Atlantic – and that trend will continue against an outmanned Alabama-Birmingham squad this weekend.

Central Michigan (+11) over Kentucky Kentucky was absolutely anemic offensively against lowly Western Kentucky last week. The most upsetting part for Wildcat fans is not that they struggled, but the struggles appeared to be more than just first -game rustiness.

The Wildcats may be in for a long year. No way they cover a

double-digit spread against anyone, even Central Michigan.

Wisconsin (-20.5) over Oregon State The Badgers clicked on all cylinders in senior quarterback Russell Wilson’s debut. There is no reason to believe his performance was any kind of a fluke.

Add in the fact that Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema never pumps the brakes, and I feel safe in saying he’ll make sure they cover the spread.

Virginia Tech (-18) over East Carolina For the past few seasons, East Carolina has had a knack for pulling at least one big upset per season. But that was during the Skip Holtz era.

Holtz has moved on and is in his second season as head coach at South Florida, where he upset Notre Dame in South Bend last weekend, and the Pirates have lost some of their swagger.

Virginia Tech is not an unstoppable force, but it will be good enough to cover against a badly outmanned East Carolina squad.

Utah (+9.5) over USC Utah is making its entrance into the Pacific-12 with a bang, and USC looked abysmal against a weak Minnesota team last weekend.

They were so bad, in fact, that Trojans coach Lane Kiffin said his offense only had one or two good players on it. If Kiffin isn’t sandbagging and is telling the truth, the Utes have a good chance to win the game outright and should easily cover an almost double-digit spread.

Michigan (+3.5) over Notre Dame It’s the first game under the lights at the Big House.

That should be more than enough to tell you who is going to win the game — no way Michigan loses one of the biggest home games in school history. Junior quarterback Denard Robinson will run circles, quite literally, around the Notre Dame defense.

All Irish coach Brian Kelly can hope for is the lights aren’t bright enough for the TV cameras to catch

TONY DING / The Associated Press

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson looks for a receiver during the Wolverines’ spring football game on April 17, 2010.

him cursing again.

Tennessee (-6) over Cincinnati This isn’t a sexy matchup by any stretch of the imagination, but Tennessee should be able to put this one away at home.

The Volunteers scored 42 points on Montana last weekend, and quarterback Tyler Bray looked sharp, throwing three touchdowns.

South Carolina (-3) over Georgia This game could make or break Mark Richt’s career as Georgia head coach. If his team can’t pull off a victory, there are plenty of rumblings he will be out of a job soon.

That being said, I think the Bulldogs will come out hungry, ready for a win. Unfortunately, South Carolina’s high-powered offense will have a field day on the porous Bulldog defense.

Penn State (+10) over Alabama For the second week in a row, I’m going against the Crimson Tide.

It burned me last week, but this time I’m a tad more confident.

Alabama sophomore

quarterback A.J. McCarron will be making his first career start on the road. To make matters worse, that start comes in Happy Valley, an environment that is anything but happy for opposing players. McCarron will struggle, especially early on.

The Tide will still squeak out a victory but won’t cover a 10-point spread.

Auburn (+6.5) over Mississippi State I said Auburn wasn’t that bad, and they will prove it this week. Mississippi State has an enormous home game against LSU next Thursday,

and they’ll get caught peeking ahead.

The Bulldogs will pull out a win late, but it will be a nail biter. Please remember, these are the teams that played a 3-2 game in 2008.

Last week’s record: 6-4.

Season record: 6-4.

Rob Landry is a 23-year old mass communication senior from Mandeville, La. Follow him on Twitter @RobLandry85.

Contact Rob Landry at rlandry@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

page 10

Friday, September 9, 2011

9/11 AND THE AFTERMATH: A Retrospect Sept. 11, 2001: More than 3,000 victims die in the attacks, including 343 firefighters and 60 police officers.

September 2001: President George W. Bush’s approval rating soars to 90 percent, the highest of any president.

Oct. 7, 2001: War on Terror launched with the intent of eradicating al-Qaida and other militant organizations.

Oct. 26, 2001: Pres. Bush signs USA PATRIOT Act into law.

Nov. 25, 2002: Dept. of Homeland Security formed to better protect U.S. from terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

Oct. 20, 2001: Paul McCartney organizes the Concert for New York City, held at Madison Square Garden.

March 10, 2003: Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines on Bush’s actions: “We’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.”

University students, professors reflect on fi Patriotism grew in aftermath Clayton Crockett Staff Writer

MARTY LEDERHANDLER / The Associated Press

The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center burn behind the Empire State Building in New York on Sept. 11, 2001.

As the nation reflects on the tenth anniversary of the Sept.

11 attacks, emanations felt deep within the University draw focus on an amplified American spirit.

“It was eerily quiet,” Greg Giacopino said as he described the beautiful weather when he left his Coney Island high school early on Sept. 11, 2001.

Giacopino, communication studies senior, was 17 when the Twin Towers fell in nearby Manhattan.

James Moran, mass communication sophomore, also lived in New York at the time.

Like many University students, though, Moran was only a child when the towers fell.

“As a nine-year-old, you just knew that something bad happened,” Moran said.

Both Giacopino and Moran were released from school early that day with neither explanation nor preparation for the news that

awaited outside.

Center poll released Sept. 1 ranks “They didn’t really know 9/11 as the most collectively rehow to handle it,” Giacopino membered occurrence since the said of his high school, where it 1963 assassination of President was ordered that all televisions John F. Kennedy. and radios had to be turned off Ninety-seven percent of as administrators tried to avoid Americans remember exactly scaring the students. where they were when they Rumors spread, however, found out about the attacks on that the smoke could be seen the towers, even after 10 years. from a third-story bathroom window. Although he didn’t get DECLARING WAR a chance to check for himself, As communities around the Giacopino, like most Americans, U.S. banded together in the days was glued to following the atthe television tacks, the dust in for the rest of the air fell only to the day. be replaced by a “They hunger for closure. tried to make “Everyone it feel norwas saying that he mal,” Moran had to do somesaid of his thing,” Giacopino elementary said of President school.

But George W. Bush. as hard as On Sept. 21, they tried, the Gallup polls indiGreg Giacopino rooms soon cated an approval communication studies senior filled with sturating of 90 perdents either cent for Bush. stunned or crying as the uncer- With the nation behind him, the tain status of loved ones circu- president commenced Operation lated.

Enduring Freedom in AfghaniThey are far from alone in stan on Oct. 7, 2001. their reflection. A Pew Research No one could predict the

‘‘

‘I don’t want to remember the events. I would like to remember the American spirit that followed.’

nature and scale of the attacks, but to say the U.S. was unprepared for the coming warfare would be wrong.

In 1995, University Associate English Professor Rick Blackwood was called upon by the Pentagon to design war games that would prepare the nation’s finest for the next war.

The product, called the “Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Symposium,” portrayed a simulation war stretching from Eastern Europe to the Middle East to East Asia.

However prepared one can be for war, “nobody expected 9/11,” Blackwood said. “Not even remotely.”

Terrorism, he explained, was just too volatile to predict.

Blackwood left the Pentagon on Sept. 7, 2001, and coincidentally awoke Sept. 11 around 3 a.m. in Pearl Harbor to news of the suicide mission.

“Of course,” he thought, “they came up with something we’d never think of.”

Blackwood was promptly “functionally recalled.”

And as if fulfilling a prophecy, two years later on March 20, 2003, America invaded Iraq.

Muslim-Americans still face challenge Brian Sibille Staff Writer

MARK LENNIHAN / The Associated Press

Firefighters respond to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, near what was once part of the facade of one of the Twin Towers of New York’s World Trade Center.

Shoeb Khan has never hidden the fact that he is a Muslim.

Khan, a computer engineering senior, came to the United States from India several years after the Sept. 11 attacks, knowing well the social challenges that Muslim-Americans face.

According to a recent study from the Pew Research Center, many Muslim-Americans have not felt increased alienation since concerns of Islamic terrorism spawned from the attacks. Nearly 50 percent of Muslim-Americans polled said the American public is friendly toward them.

Khan said the study may be correct, but many things still stand in the way of a better perception of Muslims in American society.

He said media outlets and programs like “The 700 Club” show that Muslim-Americans still face challenges. The media have inclinations to associate words like “terrorist” and “bombing” with Islam, he said.

“They report complete falsehoods as

fact,” Khan said.

But radical Muslims are a small percentage of the whole, said Nick Pierce, history junior and American-born Islam convert.

Pierce and Kahn said their involvement in the University’s Muslim Student Association has them facing daily ignorance of the Muslim faith, but problems individuals have with Islam are diminished after simple conversation.

The problem Muslims still face in America is a continually negative social perception, Pierce said.

“It’s starting to get better,” Pierce said, explaining that problems remain with the portrayal of Muslims on television and in video games.

Khan said the timing of the Pew poll is sensitive and results would differ if it was not conducted closely to the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

The poll does not reflect the reactions Pierce and Khan said they noticed among the Muslim-American community.

Khan said he, like many Muslims, was strongly influenced by elders to practice the faith when growing up, but upon coming to

America, faith became a choice.

“When you make the choice to practice Islam, you’re willing to make sacrifices,” Khan said.

Those who were not strong in faith when the attacks occurred may have pushed their Islamic beliefs “into the closet” to avoid persecution, he said. This may be the reason the Pew poll reflects sentiments that may not be true for all Muslim-Americans. “[Some Muslims] are afraid to speak about their faith,” Pierce said.

Pierce said he has only been a Muslim for three years, and he did consider the stigma Muslims have in the U.S. before choosing to convert. He was raised an Evangelical Christian, but he soon strayed from the faith. Pierce later felt God’s absence in his life, and after exploring many different religions, he found he agreed with the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

“I had to put my beliefs above my concern,” he said.

Pierce joined the Army soon after converting because of his strong desire to fight terrorism. He said contrary to what many may

The Daily Reveille

Friday, September 9, 2011

Oct. 29, 2004: Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden releases video footage in which he claims responsibility for 9/11.

March 20, 2003: Operation Iraqi Freedom begins.

page 11

Aug. 9, 2006: 9/11 is not lost on pop culture as Oliver Stone’s “World Trade Center” is released. It would go on to gross more than $162 million at the box office.

Oct. 16, 2003: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld: “We lack metrics to know if we are winning or losing the global War on Terror.”

Jan. 10, 2007: Pres. Bush announces “The New Way Forward,” equating a troop surge of 20,000 soldiers into Iraq, particularly Baghdad.

May 1, 2011: Bin Laden killed by American forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

2013: One World Trade Center, the first in the rebuilding efforts, is slated to be complete.

first-hand experiences of terrorist attacks “The Bush administration got really giddy with their success in Afghanistan,” said Mark Gasiorowski, political science professor.

Gasiorowski stressed the monumental changes the terrorist attacks brought to U.S. foreign policy.

The nation’s involvement in Iraq “turned public opinion in the Middle East and throughout the world against us,” he said, describing the Iraq War as a “major disaster.”

Giacopino also felt the shifting tides back home as the war progressed.

When neither locating the suspected weapons of mass destruction in Iraq nor capturing Osama bin Laden came to fruition, the patriotic spirit faded, he said.

“Is there an end in sight?” was the sentiment of the community, Giacopino said.

LIFE DURING WARTIME But Giacopino’s plea was left hanging as the splintering of al-Qaida brought a new series of what Gasiorowski calls “franchise al-Qaida groups,” who act independently throughout the

world.

On March 11, 2004, 10 explosions occurred on four separate commuter trains in Madrid.

On July 7, 2005, three bombs detonated in London’s underground, leaving three trains smoldering in the tunnels. Almost an hour later, a doubledecker bus exploded in the streets.

In tapes broadcasted by Al Jazeera, one of the London bombers saluted the leaders of al-Qaida and called for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Extremist groups like these are connected to the al-Qaida of 10 years ago, but they are not the same organization, Gasiorowski said.

An ocean away, the following years saw a scarred U.S. on the move to recover the morale of its people.

In 2006, the foundation for the One World Trade Center, formerly known as the Freedom Tower, was laid, and just more than a month later, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was hanged outside of Baghdad.

On Jan. 10, 2007, as a wartorn Iraq placed second on Fund

for Peace’s Failed State Index, second-term President Bush announced a “New Way Forward” — a surge of more than 20,000 soldiers sent to Iraq.

The War on Terror is not waged in vain, according to Gasiorowski. In fact, he called it “pretty damn successful.”

Al-Qaida, he said, “is really just a shadow of what it once was.”

But closure remained incomplete. Bin Laden had not met justice. “[Support] waned as years passed, and we still had not found him,” Moran said. “Especially after we went into Iraq.”

After years of waiting, President Barack Obama announced the assassination of bin Laden on May 1.

Moran and Giacopino distinctly recalled where they were when they found out.

Giacopino heard about the assassination while on an airplane, where he said passengers began to cheer and clap.

“It was at last a time to celebrate something,” he said.

Moran was sitting in Middleton Library when he received word of the assassination

through the chatting students.

The U.S. witnessed myriad responses to the announcement, from champagne and shouting to candlelight vigils at Ground Zero that night.

REMEMBRANCE Bin Laden’s death will be heavy on American minds as they reflect on the decade since he changed Manhattan’s skyline, but the tragedy of Sept. 11 shouldn’t be the focus of the commemoration, Giacopino said.

“I don’t want to remember the events,” he said. “I would like people to remember the American spirit that followed.”

Moran and Giacopino remembered the days when American flags lined every street in their native New York, and in a statement Thursday, President Barack Obama joined them in hopes for such days to return.

“That’s the America we were on 9/11 and in the days that followed,” he wrote. “That’s the America we can and must always be.”

MARK LENNIHAN / The Associated Press

The skeleton of the World Trade Center Twin Towers in the background, New York City firefighters work Sept. 11, 2001, amid debris on Cortlandt Street after the terrorist attacks.

Contact Clayton Crockett at ccrockett@lsureveille.com

es after 9/11 BR’s Sept. 11 events expect, he did not feel ostracized during training.

“There is a certain amount of alienation,” Pierce said. “But our love for this country outweighs it.”

Pierce and Khan said they acknowledge that many Muslim-Americans have been on the defense since the World Trade Center attacks, but they are constantly reminded to remember the calm, peaceful nature of the Islamic religion.

Khan said Islam has become a cornerstone at the University and in the Baton Rouge area, noting 400 Muslims on campus alone.

Pierce said events like the recent Ground Zero mosque debate prove Muslim-Americans still have obstacles to overcome.

He said the more conversations he has with curious individuals, the more people learn that the negative aspect of Islam displayed on 9/11 does not hold true for the Islamic faith.

Contact Brian Sibille at bsibille@lsureveille.com

All weekend: West Baton Rouge Museum’s “Cathartic Art: Remembering Sept. 11th” Sunday: • Freedom Walk at the USS KIDD Veterans Memorial • Noon — Colorguard Ceremony performed by the U.S. Army at the Mall of Louisiana’s center court; sign cards for men and women in uniform until 5 p.m.

• 4 p.m. — Pray for Peace Vigil, sponsored by the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge; culminates at St. Joseph Cathedral on North Street • 6 p.m. — LSU Remembrance, Walk and Candlelight Vigil; starts at Free Speech Plaza

MARK LENNIHAN / The Associated Press

A test of the Tribute in Light rises Thursday above One World Trade Center and lower Manhattan in New York.

The Daily Reveille

page 12

SOCCER

Friday, September 9, 2011

FOOTBALL

Tigers open renovated stadium New season includes new parking plan with four-team tournament Undefeated Oregon among opponents Chris Abshire Sports Writer

Despite a subpar 2-3 start to the season on a five-game road trip, the LSU soccer team has a reason to be optimistic.

The Tigers return home to a newly-renovated stadium and will christen the new confines by hosting the LSU Invitational this weekend, as LSU welcomes NCAA-regional caliber competition in Oregon, No. 20 Illinois (51) and No. 13 Pepperdine (5-0-1) for Friday and Sunday doubleheaders.

Much like the football team last weekend, LSU will take on the unbeaten Oregon (4-0-1) Friday night at 7:30 p.m. following an Illinois-Pepperdine matinee.

Illinois will then face Oregon on Sunday morning, followed by an LSU showdown with Pepperdine to conclude the stadium’s debut weekend.

The Ducks present a tough opponent for LSU’s first match in the new digs, as Oregon has yet to give up a goal in its five matches.

With that defensive prowess, LSU will likely need to improve on its early-season scoring woes.

The Tigers have managed just six goals through five games and have been shut out twice in the last three matches.

Following a 2-1 victory against Houston on Tuesday night, LSU coach Brian Lee said his Tigers are close to breaking through on the goal-scoring front.

“We’re constantly getting those chances near the net, moving the ball well and creating good looks,” he said. “We’re so close to breaking games open.”

Senior Mo Isom got the start in the Houston match, giving up only one goal as she continues to battle sophomore Megan Kinneman for the starting job.

According to Lee, the team is looking forward to the challenge of facing a ranked foe and an unbeaten squad following its own early struggles.

“We’re excited about the quality of competition joining us this weekend as we begin a new era,” Lee said in a news release. “Our fans and players will have an opportunity to enjoy an NCAA regional atmosphere.”

During the offseason, a comprehensive renovation — at an estimated cost of $1.6 million — doubled the s t a d i u m ’s

capacity to 2,200 seats, added a brick facade to the seating structure and overhauled the restrooms, press box and concession stands.

“Big picture, with this beautiful new place, there’s only one chance to come to the first game ever,” Lee said last month.

“We’re always hoping for a sellout, but especially to break in this great new home stadium. We already felt we had one of the best home advantages in the country, and now we have a stadium to match.”

Along with the soccer matches, fireworks before and after the Friday games and a dedication ceremony featuring Lee and Isom, a team captain and face of the program for the last three years, will celebrate the redone venue’s first action.

Contact Chris Abshire at cabshire@lsureveille.com

CATS to offer gameday shuttle Mark Clements Sports Writer

A new first-come, first-serve parking plan is set to be implemented for the 2011 football season.

Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Senior Associate Athletics Director Herb Vincent announced that changes were made to the original plan, which charged for parking in lots on River Road and Gourrier Avenue.

“We have re-evaluated the lots on Gourrier and River Road and determined that those lots would remain free,” Vincent said. “We’ve stayed on course on our plan to implement the paid parking on a game-by-game basis in those lots that are primarily between Tiger Stadium and Highland Road.”

The season parking passes will not be sold for these lots, Vincent said.

“We’re always looking for ways to continue to raise revenue without raising ticket prices,”

Vincent said. “This was an area we felt was very prime parking that has never been charged before, and in looking at other campuses and what they charge and how they structure their parking, we felt that charging for those lots between Highland Road and Tiger Stadium was reasonable.”

Vincent said passes would have been issued based on the LSU priority point system, leaving out those long-time fans who have parked there for years.

“We did not want to make it season parking because there are a lot of those people who parked in those areas for a long time,” Vincent said. “If you’ve always come here at 7:30 on a Saturday morning and got your spot near Tower Drive somewhere, you can still continue to do that. The difference is now there’s a charge for it.”

The Capital Area Transit System is also bringing back the Touchdown Express Shuttle, which brings fans from downtown to campus.

Patrons can bring a receipt from any restaurant or bar to the CATS shuttle pick-up point located at Convention Street and Lafayette Street and it will act as a free round-trip pass to the game.

Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com

Friday, September 9, 2011

The Daily Reveille

page 13

page 14

VOLLEYBALL

NFL

The Daily Reveille

Friday, September 9, 2011

LSU hits Green Bay, Rodgers outlast New Orleans, 42-34 road for Western Kentucky Chris Jenkins

The Associated Press

Tigers open against Wake Forest Albert Burford

Sports Contributor

LSU volleyball has a chance to make a statement to the NCAA Tournament committee this weekend.

The season isn’t ending, but the Tigers’ tournament marks the last chance the squad will have to rack up out-of-conference victories before the start of Southeastern Conference play next weekend.

This may not seem like a huge deal, but LSU coach Fran Flory knows it could mean the difference between playing in December’s NCAA Tournament and taking an early winter break.

The Tigers will face Wake Forest this morning, Xavier (Ohio) this afternoon and host Western Kentucky on Saturday.

LSU (6-1) is coming off a road trip that saw a 3-1 win over Arkansas-Little Rock, a 3-0 sweep of Grambling and a 3-1 win over tournament host New Mexico State.

“This is the most difficult tournament of the year,” she said. “I don’t think we’re going to be able to be as free with subbing as we were this past weekend.”

The Tigers, a young team with 11 freshmen and sophomores, are beginning to find their identity on the road, according to freshman outside hitter Helen Boyle.

“We didn’t know what to expect [last weekend],” she said. “I think we’re more prepared for this one, because now we know what to expect on the road.”

Flory said the team has worked into a good rhythm offensively, but still has work to do before SEC play, which begins Sept. 16 at Ole Miss.

Senior middle blocker Michele Williams said the Tigers need to work on putting opponents away.

“We want to go out there strong at first, because we kind of go out there a little shaky,” she said.

“We’ve tried to work on starting early in the game and trying to be ahead and not let other teams hang with us.”

Williams, a 2011 All-SEC Preseason Team selection, currently leads the SEC in blocks.

Even though Williams has been doing her part, that’s not enough for Flory.

“We continue to work on our blocking,” Flory said. “We’ve made some good strides, but we didn’t feel like we made as many steps forward as we were hoping, so we’ve worked on that real hard this week.”

Contact Albert Burford at aburford@lsureveille.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — A Super Bowl hangover and the NFL lockout weren’t about to slow down Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The New Orleans Saints just couldn’t keep up.

Rodgers came out on top in a memorable opening-night duel with Drew Brees, and the Packers made a goal-line stand on the final play of the game to beat the Saints 42-34 on Thursday night.

Packers rookie Randall Cobb caught a touchdown from Rodgers and ran a kickoff back 108 yards for a score in the third quarter — tying an NFL record for the longest kickoff return in history.

Rodgers threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns.

“It’s a good night for us,” Rodgers said. “I felt good about the way that I was throwing the ball. Missed a couple I probably could have hit.”

Brees threw for 419 yards and three touchdowns, including a late touchdown to Jimmy Graham that cut the lead to 8 with 2:15 left.

After a Green Bay punt, Brees marched the Saints to the Packers 9-yard line and spiked the ball with 3 seconds left. Green Bay’s A.J. Hawk was called for pass interference and the ball was placed at the 1.

Led by Clay Matthews and safety Morgan Burnett, the Packers defense swarmed Saints first-round rookie running back Mark Ingram short of the goal line and the game was over.

“You’ve got to get a yard,” Ingram said. “It’s goal line to win the game, got to get a yard.”

It was a big night for Donald Driver, who tied James Lofton’s Packers franchise mark for career yards receiving with 9,656.

Rodgers wanted to get him the record at home.

“We tried to get him the ball again, we just didn’t have an opportunity,” Rodgers said.

Cobb’s big return gave the Packers a 35-20 lead, but the game wasn’t over. Darren Sproles answered with a long kickoff return of his own, and Brees drove the Saints for a 29-yard touchdown to Devery Henderson.

The Saints forced a punt and marched to the Packers’ 7-yard line, but failed on a fourth-down conversion attempt and gave the ball back to the Packers.

Green Bay drove again, and Rodgers handed the ball to John Kuhn on third-and-goal for a 1-yard touchdown and a 42-27 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Packers’ defensive struggles made for some nervous late moments, but they came through when they had to.

If Thursday’s game was a referendum on the importance of playerled team workouts during the lockout, the results are in: The workouts Brees organized over the summer weren’t enough to help the Saints take down the champions, and the Packers’ decision not to get together as a team certainly didn’t seem to hurt them.

“That stuff does not have a major impact on the game,” Rodgers said.

For the NFL, Thursday’s opener

was a chance to stamp out any lingering memories of a tumultuous offseason filled with tense and ugly — but ultimately successful — labor negotiations.

With a massive stage engulfing a portion of the Lambeau Field parking lot for a pregame concert, Thursday night certainly felt like a big game had come to the NFL’s smallest market. Going into the game, Greg Jennings compared it to a “mini Super Bowl.”

But there wasn’t anything small about the Packers’ performance, proving once again that they were

ready for the bright lights and a tough opponent.

Rodgers led the Packers to touchdowns on their first three possessions, taking a 21-7 lead in the first quarter. The Saints rallied for a field goal, then cut the lead to 21-17 on Sproles’ 72-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter, but the Packers marched right back down the field for a 17-yard touchdown run by James Starks and went into halftime leading 28-17.

The Saints marched to the Green Bay 7-yard line on the first possession of the second half. But

Erik Walden sacked Brees on thirdand-2, forcing a 38-yard field goal by John Kasay that cut the Packers’ lead to 28-20.

The ensuing kickoff went to Cobb, who fielded the ball deep in the Packers’ end zone but took it out anyway. Cobb spun off a tackling attempt by the Saints’ Leigh Torrence, put his right hand down to keep his balance, then rambled to the end zone.

Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at sports@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Friday, September 9, 2011

COMMEMORATION

Tiger Band honors 9/11 families Catherine Parsiola Contributing Writer

The Golden Band from Tigerland will perform a special halftime show at the football home opener Saturday to honor those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Roy King, director of athletic bands, said the “Americana” show will include “Amazing Grace” performed in the same arrangement the band used in the commemorative show immediately following the attacks 10 years ago. He said

Sept. 11, from page 7 red, white and blue atmosphere at the stadium, the thunderous military flyover before the game, as well as some interesting — and rather frightening — instructions from the local police.

“It was the first time I’ve ever been spoken to by a policeman and instructed to wear a bulletproof vest,” Miles said. “Nor did I have instructions ever again on how to remove my team from the area and get on the bus and where we would go.”

Miles said “heck no” when asked if he wore the vest, but did remember other safety precautions were discussed.

“There was a conversation with [former Texas A&M coach] R. C. Slocum across the field that I’ll never forget,” Miles said. “We talked about some things that had

band members will remove their hats in a special gesture that has only been employed once before, during the first show in honor of victims’ lives.

King said a local family who lost loved ones during the attacks will join the band on the field during the show. U.S. Navy jets will also fly over the stadium Saturday during the national anthem.

“We believe it will be a poignant moment in Tiger Stadium as it was 10 years ago,” King said.

Chase Howard, second-year drum major in Tiger Band, said

he had chills during rehearsals because the show brought back memories of 9/11. He said the opportunity to honor those who lost their lives and their families is indescribable.

Howard said the show will be emotional for many fans and will “unify us as Tigers and as a country.”

to do with security. It was a much different time.”

Nearly 10 years have passed since the United States waged war on al-Qaida.

While people mark all sorts of different milestones in their lives as individual moments of maturation, Sept. 11 was one event that affected everyone across the nation.

“At that point nobody really thought an attack like that was possible, and I had never dealt with anything like that,” said senior offensive lineman TBob Hebert. “It was a little bit of a growing up experience. It’s pretty insane to think it’s been 10 years since it happened. It’s a national tragedy and I’m glad that our country seems to have come together.”

Looking back on the 10-year stretch since the events of 9/11, Miles said he was proud of the country’s rebound.

“This game and this wonderful country are pretty special,” Miles said reminiscing over the past 10 years. “They overcome every hurdle and every obstacle.”

Contact Catherine Parsiola at cparsiola@lsureveille.com

Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com

Northwestern, from page 7

little things that add up and make a big difference. Correcting them could mean the difference between shutting somebody out or giving up a big play.”

The Demons have been shut out in every game against the Tigers, but Miles insists that’s not what’s on the team’s mind.

“It’s more important that we seal victory and worry less about whether they score a point,” Miles said. “We need to play 60 minutes of strong football and go from there.”

Miles said he would’ve liked to use junior wide receiver Rueben Randle more than he was able to in the Oregon game.

Randle only caught one pass for 10 yards against Oregon, which went for a touchdown. He said he may get his chance to make more of an impact this weekend. “[Miles] expected us to make more plays,” Randle said.

page 15

“Northwestern will give us that opportunity since they’re a manbased team, so I’m looking forward to making more plays than I did last weekend.”

With a little more freedom likely in substitutions, Miles said sophomore backup quarterback Zach Mettenberger is progressing behind senior quarterback Jarrett Lee, who played every snap at quarterback against Oregon.

“Whether or not he’ll get some snaps in this game or how significant those snaps will be, I’m not ready to say yet,” Miles said. “But his preparation will be increased without question.”

Miles named senior fullback James Stampley captain for the game after an impressive showing in the Oregon game.

Contact Albert Burford at aburford@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Opinion

The

page 16

Peanut

Gallery

Where were you on 9/11?

WHAT’S THE BUZZ?

Do you remember where you were during 9/11?

I remember where I was

Compiled by CLAIRE CALLIER

Laura Fontenot history sophomore

‘I was turning 12 years old ...

Sept. 11 is my birthday.

It sends chills just thinking about it.’

Monisha Haney nutritional sciences sophomore

‘I was in fourth grade ... Teachers were running frantically through the halls.’

Alex Ge

Graduate student

99%

‘I was in Florida.

People’s parents came to get them from school.’

I don’t remember where I was

1% Total votes: 213

Participate in next week’s poll at lsureveille.com.

WEB COMMENTS

As usual, the Opinion Section of our website, lsureveille.com, has been absolutely buzzing with reader comments. Check it out today, and let your voice be heard.

In reference to the Reveille article, “Keeping your virginity doesn’t mean you’re losing your mind,” readers had this to say: “Tired ‘In our culture sex is now demanded’ argument- Check BS Statistics from a flagrantly biased Christian dating site - Check ‘You’re shaming your spouse by sleeping with people before him/ her’ - Check ‘If you ever have sex, you will totally get AIDS or pregnant because birth control and condoms don’t really work.’ -Check. Awesome. I won Purity Ring bingo.

Seriously, divorce is higher among the very group that trumpets this abstinence-only BS most loudly.

Friday, September 9, 2011 If your future spouse can’t love you because you chose to have sex in the past, then they aren’t worth being with. Take precautions by all means but you should never let the outdated misogynistic demands of hypocrites control your life.”

-Anonymous “I don’t think the message was intended to say you should be abstinent. I completely took this as more of a ‘it’s okay if you’re still a virgin’ statement. but with know it all’s like three of the previous comments, of course she has to throw it some sort of arguable facts. isn’t that what makes entertainment and good news? I applaud gabby for being so brave and untrendy.”

-Anonymous

Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com

SCUM OF THE GIRTH Courtney Dupuy

history and criminology senior

‘I was in fourth grade ...

My teacher ran into the library and told them to hook the TV up.’

Erin Aquilar

education sophomore

‘I was in China. I didn’t see it live, but I saw it on the news.

No one missed it.’

It’s time to turn the other cheek, America

Where were you when the planes hit the Twin Towers?

I was in the fifth grade, oblivious to why half of my class had been picked up from school early that day by their parents. We were kept in the dark, too young to comprehend the tragedy that had just struck our nation in the form of four airplanes.

Ten years later, we as a nation seem to have a pretty firm grasp on why 9/11 happened.

A group of angry men who believed they PARKER CRAMER were doing God’s Columnist will decided to kill as many innocent civilians as they could, along with themselves.

Some people would call them radical Islamists, but they don’t deserve to be called Muslims, because no man or woman of God would do what they did.

According to the 9/11 Commission report, more than 2,600 people died at the World Trade Center, 125 died at the Pentagon and 256 died on the four planes. In total, that’s more than 3,000 dead, including the attackers.

In hindsight, 9/11 could have been prevented. With the security measures we have today, such as increased airport screening, locked

The Daily Reveille Editorial Board

Matthew Jacobs Chris Branch Ryan Buxton Marissa Barrow Sydni Dunn Devin Graham

Editor-in-Chief Associate Managing Editor Associate Managing Editor Managing Editor, External Media News Editor Opinion Editor

cockpits, air marshals, international cooperation from foreign airports and a much more alert populous, an attack by plane would be much harder to conceive.

Knock on wood.

Since 9/11, the United States has been involved in four separate foreign campaigns, all of which are predominately Islamic nations.

Undoubtedly, our presence is the heaviest in Iraq and Afghanistan, but let’s not forget about the onetwo punch we threw in Libya before tapping out and letting France and Britain take over. Also, Pakistan was none too happy about our wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am with bin Laden.

As of 2009, more than 110,000 Iraqis had been killed since the 2003 invasion by the U.S. and coalition forces, according to the Associated Press. While there is some discrepancy on how many of those killed were insurgents, it’s believed to be a mere fraction of the total number.

According to the Department of Defense, there have been 4,408 U.S. military casualties in Iraq since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 56 more subsequent deaths since the start of Operation New Dawn. In Afghanistan, the DOD reports 1,643 U.S. military casualties since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The operation has multiple

fronts, of which the death toll is another 100 U.S. servicemen, who lost their lives in either “Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Philippines, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Yemen”, according to the DOD. As you can see, we’ve been busy.

Since 9/11, an attack that killed 3,000 people, we have lost roughly 6,200 servicemen on various fronts. We have also killed thousands of insurgents, those who undoubtedly share a similar ideology as the 9/11 attackers but most likely did not have any direct involvement, financially or as coconspirators.

The major incongruity that sticks out to me is that just because 19 men from different countries came and killed 3,000 of our own in an act of cowardice does not excuse the fact that our bombs and bullets killed thousands upon thousands of innocent civilians in the Middle East, regardless of our intent, simply because they were accidentally caught in our crosshairs.

Through our actions, we’ve taken al-Qaida, a group of wicked and ideologically warped individuals and made them look like the good guys. Through excessive civilian casualties, many individuals only see the U.S. as the country that killed their parents or their

Editorial Policies & Procedures

The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University.

The Daily Reveille is an independent entity within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, paper or University. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-26 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must have a contact phone number so the opinion editor can verify the author. The phone number won’t be printed. The Daily Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration without changing the original intent. The Daily Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Daily Reveille’s editor-in-chief, hired every semester by the Louisiana State University Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

kids. On our current track, we are doing nothing but breeding a new round of recruits for radical organizations like al-Qaida. It’s pure common sense.

Collateral damage from American weapons is preventable. If we think — because we rarely know for sure — a Taliban leader is hiding out in a house in Kabul, don’t send an unmanned drone to do a man’s job. The suspect may be having sex with his wife or hosting a block party, all of which would result in civilian casualties.

America is undoubtedly the most powerful nation on Earth. We are capable of great and terrible diplomacy. Killing civilians and orphaning children, whether accidentally or as an accepted sacrifice for the greater good, is unacceptable, regardless of what was done to us on 9/11.

As difficult as it may be sometimes, it may be time for us to turn the other cheek.

Parker Cramer is a 20-yearold political science major from Houston. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_PCramer.

Contact Parker Cramer at pcramer@lsureveille.com

Quote of the Day “My life is my message.”

Mohandas Ghandi Indian ideological leader Oct. 2, 1869 - Jan. 30, 1948

The Daily Reveille

Friday, September 9, 2011

PRESS X TO NOT DIE

Opinion

page 17

MPAA, RIAA team up to monitor Internet pirates Why pay for something when you could get it for free?

That’s been a topic of debate for the past decade or two, thanks to the ease of online piracy.

Ever since the rise and fall of file-sharing site Napster, record labels have been at war with anyone who would think about pirating their music.

In the early 2000s many lawsuits were filed for Internet piracy, ranging from those downloading hundreds of albums to soccer moms who downloaded three songs.

It got a little ridiculous. Popular peer-to-peer networking sites started to fall. First Napster went down, and Kazaa took its place as a leading file-sharing client. After Kazaa fell, LimeWire became huge.

As you can see, every time authorities took one site down, another one replaced it.

With LimeWire being the

latest victim, it doesn’t mean piracy has slowed down — because it never will.

But people are still trying to bring free music to a grinding halt.

In the next few months, millions of people considered to be online pirates will have their Internet usage monitored.

This is all thanks to an agreement between the Motion Picture Association of America, Recording Indus- Adam Arinder try Association of Columnist America and all major United States Internet service providers.

In June, the MPAA and RIAA struck a deal in yet another attempt to deter the online piracy of movies, television shows and music.

Partnered with U.S. ISPs, this new superteam will

monitor BitTorrent and other public file-sharing networks collecting the IP addresses of alleged pirates.

These IP addresses will then be stored in a decentralized database for any repeat offenses. The ISPs will then notify users if their behavior becomes unacceptable.

After six warnings — that’s a lot of slaps on the wrist — ISPs may then take a variety of disciplinary actions which include slowing down or capping the offender’s Internet connection.

“ISPs will hold this information, as they do today. Please also note that no personal information about subscribers will be shared with rights holders without the required legal process being completed,” an unnamed Center for Copyright Information spokesperson told TorrentFreak.

The spokesperson also said users’ information will be stored in the database for a minimum of 12 months. After that time, it’s up

to each ISP on what happens to the information.

While this plan may seem fine and dandy on paper, there are so many potential problems with it.

I — and I’m sure many other people — don’t like the idea of paying our ISP (whether it’s Cox, AT&T or whomever) to constantly watch what we do online.

Secondly, this past summer was filled with different groups (Anonymous, LulzSec, etc.) hacking and wreaking havoc all over the Internet.

This authority supergroup trying to crack down on Internet regulations will do nothing but upset the hacking groups, who will most likely proceed to break into and possibly destroy the database.

You don’t want to piss off the Internet. Sony learned that lesson the hard way.

I’ve never been afraid of threats the RIAA has made toward Internet piracy before, but they

have been fighting a lone battle.

With this additional help from all of the major ISPs in the U.S., they may be able to make more of an impact with their threats. Maybe.

Overall, this supergroup will not defeat piracy. Will they slow down some people’s Internet?

Probably. But they will in no way kill it.

So if you’re downloading Lil Wayne’s awesome new album while you read this column, you’re safe for now. But don’t be shocked when you find out your Internet service provider is peering down your neck more than you think.

Adam Arinder is a 21-year-old communication studies senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_aarinder.

Contact Adam Arinder at aarinder@lsureveille.com

SEEMANN SAYS

Ron Paul may be charismatic, but doesn’t understand science

I really want to like Ron Paul.

For disaffected independent voters like me, the possibilities of the 2012 election loom large and ominous on the horizon.

Next November, America must choose between a politically impotent Barack Obama, who has all but given control of policy to congressional Republicans, or one of several grievously-flawed Republican candidates.

Tea Party darling Michele Bachmann attributed the recent wave of natural disasters to God’s anger over America’s failure to balance the budget.

Long-time Texas Gov. Rick Perry dabbles in government-sponsored prayer rallies and amateur secessionism.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has trouble escaping accusations that the health care plan he implemented in his state is a dead ringer for the dreaded “Obamacare.”

Scattered among a number of minor candidates is Paul, a dogged libertarian representative from Texas. Paul harbors many policy positions one might consider radical. He supports the abolition of the Federal Reserve, as well as FEMA. He decries government interference in the personal affairs of citizens and, as a result, runs the gamut of unconventional positions for a member of either party.

He supports drug legalization but opposes federal involvement in health care. He opposes the death penalty, preemptive war and, somehow, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed major forms of discrimination against blacks and women.

Paul’s somewhat disparate policy positions make him, if nothing else, the most interesting candidate in the race. But his appeal does not lie within his policy positions.

Paul is charismatic, confident and largely willing to answer the questions asked of him. It appears Paul has actually given many of these issues careful consideration and has the ability to effectively explain his position. He displays a sense of conviction that is sorely lacking in Washington today.

Therefore, I struggle with Ron Paul. If the nation were striding up to an important impasse, could Paul be stubborn Chris Seemann enough to stand his ground when Columnist Obama could not?

Perhaps he would become frustrated enough to eschew pursuing another term for the purpose of making a stand. Whatever the case, the possibilities are intriguing.

Paul’s earnestness, though, can also stop a potential supporter in his tracks. A video of Paul at a campaign rally in 2007 surfaced recently, wherein Paul said of evolution, “I think it’s a theory.” He continued, “the theory of evolution and I don’t accept it as a theory.”

Paul was once a practicing gynecologist, but apparently the scientific theory which serves as a basis for modern genetics, microbiology, biochemistry and countless other scientific disciplines eluded him during his studies.

Unfortunately for Paul, his position on evolution detracts from the

qualities which separate him from the field of Republican candidates for president. Perry and Bachmann have both assailed evolution in an effort to energize their evangelical base.

Paul’s answer, while regrettable, at least shows a proper respect for scientific discourse. Paul did not declare he “does not believe” in evolution, because one’s evaluation of evolution is not a matter of belief. Either one accepts evolution and attempts to understand it, or one chooses to remain ignorant of it.

Paul does not disparage

evolution for no reason — a sizeable proportion of crucial primary voters also choose to remain ignorant of evolution. If Paul fancies himself a serious contender for the Republican nomination, he has to court these voters as well.

Paul’s desire to lead America in a divergent direction demanded my attention, even though I disagree with many of his policy positions.

Paul’s leadership qualities are readily apparent, but his antagonism towards an uncontroversial cornerstone of science makes him a candidate I simply can not support.

I’m sorry, but it’s over, Ron. I just cannot be one of those privileged few — and I mean few — who casts a vote for you on Nov. 6, 2012.

Chris Seemann is a 21-year-old mass communications senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_CSeemann.

Contact Chris Seemann at cseemann@lsureveille.com

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The Daily Reveille

page 18

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DEVELOPMENT

The Daily Reveille

page 19

University purchases land to expand South Campus Property will be first of four pieces

buy back.

“The foundation acted as a bank on LSU’s behalf,” Ballard said. “After the fourth installment is purchased, the land will be developed. They are definitely Morgan Searles getting a place down there for Staff Writer technology partnerships.”

The LSU System Board of Sara Crow, director of LSU Supervisors recently paid $2.2 Foundation communications, million to the LSU Foundation said the University bought the for 22 acres of undeveloped land land from the foundation with four miles south of the main cam- money received in the Capital pus.

Outlay Fund.

D u r Crow said reing the next cent legislation rethree years, leased the money the board will through the Capital purchase three Outlay Fund that more pieces of the University used land from the last week to purfoundation to chase the land. be constructed Money rewith South leased in the 2011 Campus. The legislative session LSU Foundawill also enable the tion is a nonUniversity to make profit, privately another purchase funded foundafrom the foundation tion designed soon. to advance “We purchased and develop a couple tracts of the University. land over the past Charles D’Agostino Ernie Balfew years,” Crow executive director of Louisiana said. “The reason lard, director of public af- Business and Technology Center we purchased it inifairs, said the tially was that LSU foundation purchased the entire didn’t have the dollars.” tract of land for the University to Charles D’Agostino,

‘‘

‘They take the site off-campus and make that the business-type center to create jobs.

Businesses will hopefully employ graduates and help LSU research and technology.’

executive director of the Louisiana Business and Technology Center, said the property will be the University’s Innovation Park — a place developed for economic purposes.

“It’s a concept all over the United States and all over the world where universities want to save campus space for academic purposes,” D’Agostino said. “They take the site off-campus and make that the businesstype center to create jobs. Businesses will hopefully employ graduates and help LSU research and technology.”

D’Agostino said the

University acquired 160 acres in 2005 and the four installments will give an additional 90 acres as a frontage to the whole property.

He said the University will have varying involvement in the park businesses.

“For some of them, LSU actually licenses technology to the companies,” he said. “Others are started by LSU faculty or employees and others have no relation to LSU. But most of them do have the relation of hiring students or interns or using faculty research to help them develop product or service.”

With the development of

new businesses in the park, D’Agostino said about 500 jobs could open up in three years.

“The types of companies we have here are technology companies with high-paying jobs, which is something that will help the economy as well as being attractive jobs for students graduating,” he said.

Contact Morgan Searles at msearles@lsureveille.com

page 20

The Daily Reveille

Friday, September 9, 2011